Improved folding chair



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NELsoN onoss, oENEw YORK, N.. Y.'

IMPRovED FOLDING CHAIR.V

To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, NELsoN GEoss, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented avnew and Improved Folding Chair Suitable for Tourists, Excursionists, dto.; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, as subdivided and explained. Y

The nature of my invention consists of the construction of a strong, light, and comfortable chair, capable of sustaining a heavy weight and susceptible of being easily folded into a narrow and compact space. The material used in its construction is, with the exception of the metallic fastenings, wood. Hickory, oak, and ash will be found preferable to most other woods found in this country. A single isometric representation of the chair is shown, as it is believed this will subserve every required purpose. In order to a clear understanding of this, I have thought t to subdi vide the parts as follows, to wit: p

Subdivision 1, consisting of the cross stand-- ards or supports; subdivision 2, consisting of the seat; subdivision 3, consisting of the back; subdivision 4,'consisting of the arms and armfastenings.

First subdivision-The lower part or base of the chair is composed of four slats or bars of wood of equal p roportions, the inner two being framed parallel to each other and firmly held in place at a distance, measuring from their interior surfaces, equal t-o the width of the seat, by means of a cross tie or brace attached at the extremes of its four arms to the two bars midway between the upper and lower half of each, measuring from the center to the ends, by side mortises and tenons so framed as to detract as little as may be from the natural strength of the wood, thus uniting great strength and durability when the strain is severest by an economical expenditure of material. The two outer bars or slats are also united parallel to each other, at a distance sufficiently enlarged to admit of their working upon the outside of the two minner bars, by means of a straight tie or brace running at right angles, and attached in like manner to theunder side of the lower half of the two outer bars, in such manner as topresent no obstacle to the close folding of the various parts. The base-sections thus framed are united midway between their extremes by a slim axle-bolt, thus forming a substantial base for the additional parts of the chair. Y

Second subdzvz'sion.-The seat is constructed of a number of thin slats extending from front to rear at rightl angles with the front outer bar, and passing between and immediately behind the interior back slats. They are securely attached at the ends to a front and rear crossbar by means of dovetail joints or their me chanical equivalent. The front cross bar forms the front'or outer face of the seat, being the larger and stronger of the two. It is bored at the axis of the two ends to receive the-axle bolt, screw, or other fastening, and the two ends are bound with metallic rings to give it additional strength.

Third subdcision.-.-The back consists of two side slats or bars, a bottom rail or bar joined by a mortise and tenon within the same, a top rail or cap-piece joined in like manner, but projecting at the ends sufficiently to prcvent the sliding arms from slipping over the top. Vithin this frame there are a number of thinner slats running parallel to the sides equidistant from each other, and arranged in jux' taposition to the horizontal slats of the seat. These at the bottom are let into the rear or back edge of the bottom rail, thus effectually resisting the strain upon the rear attachment of the seat, but at the top they are let into the front or inner edgeof the cap-rail, the center one being dovetailed at the two ends, thus uniting the' strength of the two end rails in sustaining the seat, and not only forming a smooth inner surface to the back, but also making room for the passage of the arms-bar into the slots or mortises ofthe side rails and immediately behind the thin slats of the back, against which it rests and serves to support, as hereinafter described.

Fourth subdivision. The arms are formed of two parallel bars or slats of equal length and proportions, united at the upper or sliding end by a' metallic rod'or bar of sufficient length to pass at right angles to the arm-pieces bar is iirmly locked in position by means of a metallic button, slide, or key, so adapted and attached as to fall or slide into place by its own gravity directly over the lower angle of the said mortise or slot and upon the arms-bar, thus preventing its escape. This fastening may be effected by other well-known mechanical contrivances.

The several parts or subdivisions above described are set up and put together in the following manner: The two outer standards or supports are carried back at the upper ends, the lower end of the back is passed between them, and a bolt, screw, or other fastening is then passed through the ends of these upright cross-supports into the outer frame of the back at apointimmcdiately above the bottom slat or rail. Through the interstices of the back interior slats the horizontal slats of the seat are passed and permanently fastened to the rear bar of the Aseat immediately behind the said back slats, thus intersecting and fastening together the seat and back at the points stated. The forward or front bar of the seat is then passed longitudinally between the upper ends of the inner standards or cross-supports of the base. The upper or sliding part of the arms is passed over and behind the back. The lower ends are drawn down, so as to cover the upper ends of the two inner supports or cross-standards. A bolt, rod, or screw is then passed through the arms at the lower ends into and through the said inner supports at the point designated, and/thence securely into the axis of the forward bar of the seat, thus binding and holding the three firmly in place in such manner as to allow the armpieccs and supports to turn upon the bolt-fastvabove described. The back may thus be set to any required inclination, or different degrees of an angle may be attained for the back bya series of straight or angular cuts and fast-A enings, accordingly as may be desired.

The advantages which this chair possesses over all other folding chairs now in use are, first, great strength and durability, combined with lightness and portability,the several parts being so related to each other as to afford a mutual support, thus permitting the use of slender and delicately-fashioned bars in its construction; second, a simple and easy mode of adjustment for use, or of folding compactly together for transportation; third, facility of construction, the materials and workmanship beingvsimple and easily procured.

That which I claim as my invention is- The combination and arrangement of the scat and back with the movable or sliding arms and the arms-rod, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

1 NELSON CROSS. In presence of# EDwIN B. FORD, EDWARD SHERER. 

